Luhrmann searched hard for Daisy

Baz Luhrmann admitted casting the role of Daisy Buchanan in his film adaptation of The Great Gatsby was a "hard search" but as soon as he auditioned Carey Mulligan he and Leonardo DiCaprio knew she was the one.

Baz Luhrmann admitted casting the role of Daisy Buchanan in his film adaptation of The Great Gatsby was a "hard search" but as soon as he auditioned Carey Mulligan he and Leonardo DiCaprio knew she was the one.

Baz told Vulture.com: "Leonardo was early on. But the Daisy Buchanan part, that was a harder search. Leonardo and I went to all the auditions together, and we knew within minutes of seeing Carey.

"Actually, Leonardo said something really beautiful, I believe. He said, 'You know, Gatsby knew a certain kind of woman, but he would never know a Daisy, a hothouse flower like that.' He understands Gatsby obsessing about her."

The film also stars Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke, and Baz believes the cast make his movie as they are all "in their prime".

He added: "But the biggest thing in the film, I think - the most visionary thing, the wildest thing, the newest thing - is the coming together of all these young actors in their prime, just standing in a room, acting a ten-page scene. Just acting. In 3D."